David black



(No Model.)

D. BLACK.

VBLOGIPEDE.

No. 350,719. Patented Oct. 12,1886.

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DAVID BLACK, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO ISA AO N. HUMPHREY AND JOHN T. GREEK, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 350,719, dated October 12, 1886.

Application tiled February 25, 1886. Serial No. 193,151.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, DAYID BLACK, of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in 5 Tricycles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the aecompa nying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in trieycles; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the frame, the seat-supports, the propelling-gear, and the brake and steering apparatus, all as more fully hereinafter shown and described.

In the drawings which accompany this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved tricycle, with the large wheels only shown in dotted outlines. Fig. 2 is a de tached perspective of the manner in which the motion is conveyed to the drive-wheels, and Fig. 3 is a sectional perspective of the hub of one of the drivewheels. Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective of one end of the axle. Fig. 5 is a side view of the steeringand brake apparatus.

The framework of this machine consists of tubular bars connected together by suitable couplings, as shown, to form a continuous rail running around the front and upon the two sides. The rear ends ofthe side rails, A, form upward return-bends B terminating in ver tical standards, 0, which are secured at their lower ends to the side rails. The return-bends B are connected by a cross-bar, D, which thus forms the rear side of the frame.

E is the rear axle, upon which the two large drive-wheels are journaled, and which is pro vided with two cranks, F F, formed upon the opposite sides thereof. The axle E revolves in suitable bearings, G, which are clipped to the side rails, as shown.

The seat H (shown in dotted outline) is supported upon a double curved bar or leaf spring, I, placed longitudinally in the center between and above the side rails. The central portion of said spring between the curved portions forms a saddle, a, by means of which the spring is secured to and suspended on a crossbar, J. The latter is sleeved with its ends upon the standards 0, with coilsprings K (X0 model.)

placed underneath and adj ustably supported by set-collars L.

M M are the pedals which actuate the pedallevers, each of which consists of two members, N O, hinged together at or near the center by a knucklejoiut. The members 0 of each pedal-lever are jourualed with their front ends upon the front rail at b. The other members,

N, are bent outwardly at i, and their rear ends 6c are journaled unto the crank of the axle. The inner ends of the members of each lever are bifurcated, and a bolt, c, hinges the bifurcated ends together and serves as a pivot upon which the pedals turn. 6

P is the guiding-wheel. It runs in advance of the crank-axle upon a short axle secured in the lower ends of a forked standard, Q, which turns on a vertical pivot pin in the crosscoupling 1% of the frame.

The steering lever S is secured by means of a vertical hinge joint to the end of the pivotpin, so that it may be reversed and used to draw the machine when necessary, as in the case of steep hills.

T is a brake-shoe for the guiding-wheel. It is secured to the end of a brake-lever, d, which passes through the fork of the standard directly over the wheel, and is fulcrumed at e. The upper end of the brake-lever is connected by a wire, f, which runs along the steeringlever, with a little ilfll](l-18V0l, placed in convenient proximity to thehandle h of the steering-lever. A spring, 5, is arranged to keep the brake shoe normally out of contact with the wheel.

U are two small steel ratchet wheels secured near the inner end of the spindles V of the axle, and V are steel ratchet-dogs or clicks secured upon the inner and recessed face of c the hubs of the large wheels, and adapted to operate in connection with the ratchets to transmit a forward motion to the wheels. This arrangement of ratchets and dogs permits each wheel to run ahead of its motion independ- 5 ently of the other in turning.

The wheels are what are termed spiderwheels, and are tired with rubber. A step may be fixed. to one side for mounting and dis mounting, and the cross-bar D, back of the I00 seat, may be arranged to carry asuitable amount of baggage.

By constructing the pedal-levers and the seat in the manner described all complication in the construction of the frame is avoided,while at the same time all the stress is brought directly onto the frame itself, whicl1,owingto its shape and construction, is very rigid.

It will be observed that the cranks are placed near the bearingsof the axle, and that portion of the axle between the cranks is straight,so as to act as a brace, and in order to bring the pedals in proper proximity to each other the pedals are bent, as shown at z. This construction prevents the strain on the axle from acting injuriously.

That I claim as my invention is- 1. In a tricycle, a pedal-movement consisting of bifurcated pedal-levers provided with knuekle'j'oints at or near their center, which form the pivots for the pedals, which pedals work between the bifurcations of said levers, said pedal-levers being journaled at one end to the cranks and at the other to the frame, substantially as described.

2. In a trioycle,the combination of the frame forming a continuous front and side rail, of the double throw crank-axle j ournaled in bearings clipped to the side rails, and having the cranks formed near said bearings and connected by a straight portion of the axle, of the pedal-levers provided with knuckle-joints and journaled at one end to the cranks and at the other to the frame, and of the bends i in said pedal -levers, all arranged substantially as and for the purposes described.

' 3. In a tricycle, a supportingframe forming acontinuous rail on the front and sides, and provided with upward return-bends terminating in vertical standards,which are secured to the side rails, combined with the cross-bar J, sliding on said standards,and the springs R on said standards beneath said cross-bars, substantially as specified v 4. In a trioycle,the combination of a support ing-frame forming a continuous rail in front and on the sides,and having an upward returnbend terminating in vertical standards 0, in combination with the cross-bar J, guided upon said standards, substantially as described.

5. In a tricycle, the combination of a support-- ing-frame consisting of a continuous rail forming the side rails and front rail, of the crosscoupling R in the front rail,of the bar D,connecting the return-bends B,and of the doublethrow crank-aXle E, running in bearings G,

clipped to the side rails, and extended parallel with said side rails, as shown, to bring the cranks in proximity to said rails, all arranged substantially as described.

6. In a tricycle, in combination, the stand ards O, the cross-bar J, the coil-springs K, the double-curved spring-bar I, saddled upon the cross-bar J, and the seat H, all arranged sub- DAVID BLACK.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM H. TUCKER, V. B. TUCKER. 

